THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT – Sony/Roadshow Music

The Butterfly Effect are an alternative Progressive Rock band from Brisbane, Australia, formed in 1999. The band released a self-titled debut EP in 2001, and then three full-length album afterwards; Begins Here in 2003, Imago in 2006, and Final Conversation of Kings in 2008. During this time, the band consisted of Clint Boge on lead vocals, Kurt Goedhart on guitar, Glenn Esmond on bass, and Ben Hall on drums. After struggling for years to work on a fourth studio album, Boge left the band in 2012 due to personal and creative differences. The remaining recruited Brisbane-based singer Paul Galagher for a final single and tour before announcing their split in 2016. They announced the breakup on their website alongside a limited edition vinyl release of their full back catalogue.

Formation and self-titled EP (1999)
The band first formed in 1999, consisting of drummer Ben Hall, guitarist Kurt Goedhart and a few schoolmates. The band in this form played a few live shows in 1999, most notably one at the Ipswich Racecourse, where Hall met future lead singer Clint Boge after the show. The two discussed musical ideas for what would become the band’s first release of music, and by Winter 2000, Boge replaced the band’s prior vocalist. The band released their self-titled debut EP in 2001.

Two singles were released from the album, “Take it Away” and “Crave”, both receiving extensive airplay on Australian radio station Triple J. The band toured extensively throughout 2002 in support of the album, with the band recruiting final long-term member Glenn Esmond as a bassist, and then playing the Rapid Festival, the Shihad Tour, and the 2002 edition of the Big Day Out festival. The single’s and tour lead to band’s EP, an independent release, to exceed over 10,000 copies sold. After being featured as Triple J’s “Unsigned Find” of 2002, the band signed to record labels “Roadshow Music” and “Rough Cut Publishing”, and began working on a full-length album.

Begins Here (2003)
In November 2002 the band released “Crave”, the first single from their debut album. It debuted on the ARIA Charts at No. 59 and also achieved No. 1 on the independent charts.

The Butterfly Effect spent November 2002 to March 2003 recording their debut album, Begins Here, at Modern Music Studios in Brisbane, Australia. The album was released in Australia on 4 August 2003. It debuted at No. 24 on the ARIA Charts and again topped the independent charts. It remained in the charts for 56 weeks in total. To date, it has sold over 30,000 copies.

Distribution deals saw the album being released by RSK in the UK, Sony in Germany, Suburban in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The band started to garner attention in Europe, with mentions in several media including Metal Hammer, Rock Sound, Classic rock, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer Germany and Aardshock. In August 2004 the band did a six-week tour through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the UK. From September to November The Butterfly Effect played 32 shows in 40 days. Album sales have now exceeded 10,000 units in the UK and Europe, and the band has also had some success in South Africa.

During 2005 the band recorded a new single titled “Phoenix” featuring Kenn Malaxos on banjo. The single was released during September, and a film clip was also made. During October and November the band toured Australia, playing some material from their forthcoming second album, Imago, which was released in Australia during July 2006.

Imago (2006)
The band finished recording their second studio album, titled Imago, in early 2006 and it was released on 17 June 2006. It debuted at No. 2 in the ARIA Chart for Weekly Top 100 highest selling music albums. Their previous album, Begins Here, was released in the US through hard rock record label Megaforce Records. The band commenced the Imago tour around Australia in July.

In mid-2006, after nearly three years since its release Begins Here was certified gold in Australia, exceeding sales of 35,000 copies. Shortly afterwards, Imago also attained the same status, only this time it reached the gold mark in only eight weeks, including debuting at No. 2 on the ARIA album charts.

Following the release of Imago, The Butterfly Effect spent the remainder of the year touring the record including an appearance on the 2007 Big Day Out festival tour. Shortly after, work began on material for the follow-up album. In July 2007, the band undertook the In A Memory Tour, with Chicago’s Chevelle and upcoming Brisbane act Dead Letter Circus. On this tour, they previewed ‘7 Days’ and ‘Rain’. In early 2008, the Home Alone Tour was announced to fill in time before the recording of the new record. The tour, previewed additional new songs called “The Hidden” and “In These Hands”.

Final Conversation of Kings (2008)
Recording of the album began in March 2008. The album, Final Conversation of Kings, was released in Australia on 20 September. The cover and booklet art was illustrated by Monaux. It debuted on the ARIA Charts at No. 3. On 14 July the band’s first single Window and the Watcher was debuted on radio station Triple J, with the single being released on 23 August. After the release of the album, The Butterfly Effect set off on a tour of Australia spanning October and November, with support from Melbourne acts Trial Kennedy and Sleep Parade. They also performed as part of the Big Day Out 2009 festival, headlining the Converse Essential stage.

Aborted fourth album and breakup (2010-2016)
Initial plans after wrapping up touring in support of Final Conversation of Kings involved writing and demoing material for a fourth album in 2010 and releasing it in early 2011. The band would also tour during this time, performing the “Four Wheels and a Heartbeat” tour in 2010, where they even played new material, most notably a track entitled “Five Golden Rings” in full. Despite this, the band would privately struggle to work on the album for over three years. The band went through extended periods of tension and frustration, with members, most notably Boge with the rest of the band, not getting along. Boge desired for the band to return to their heavier, earlier sound of the initial EP and Begins Here album. Conversely, the rest of the band wanted to push forward even further into progressive territory, as they had with Final Conversation of Kings album, and incorporate further unconventional instruments for rock music into their songs, such as mandolin or bells.

In September 2013, the band announced an Australian tour for October, shortly after announcing Paul Galagher as the band’s new lead singer. The band released their first and only Galagher, “Eyes Down”,at the same time. After a second period of years of public silence and inactivity, the band officially announced their disbandment in August 2016.

Vox Singing Academy student and lead singer Clint Bode has continued to write new music and pushes vocal boundaries since leaving The Butterfly Effect with great success in his bands 1000 Needles in Red, Like Thieves and Clint Bode (solo). Clint recently toured Australia with Dead Letter Circus. Look out for new music from Clint Bode in 2017 with an all-star band including members from Static X and Coal Chamber.

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